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Monday, April 14, 2014

THE empanelment for posts at the level of joint secretary and joint secretary equivalent is “a thesis on inequality, unfairness, hegemony, greed and injustice”, says Hyderabad-based Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer Satya Prasant P in a blog post. His argument? Non-IAS officers are simply “trampled by the IAS lobby when it comes to appointments under the Central Staffing Scheme through the highly skewed process of empanelment.” In a well-researched piece, Satya Prasant talks about some “deliberate manmade procedural bottlenecks” which actually hamper…the timely empanelment of non-IAS officers. He gives details of how 1995 batches of IAS and Indian Foreign Service officers were already empanelled for appointment to posts of joint secretary and joint secretary equivalent under the Central Staffing Scheme whereas the next nearest batch of any service to be empanelled was that of the 1991 batch of Indian audit and accounts service (IAAS). “The junior most batches of IRS (IT), IES, IRTS and ITS to be empanelled to the posts of joint secretary and joint secretary equivalent were those of 1986. The 1982 batch of Indian Telecom Service, 1983 batch of IRSME, 1984 batch of IDES, 1985 batches of IOFS, IIS, IRPS and IRS (C and CE) were the junior most batches so far empanelled to posts of joint secretary and joint secretary equivalent,” he analyses. In simple words, officers from the allied services take much longer to get empanelled as joint secretary whereas IAS and IFS become eligible at a much younger age, thereby giving that latter a better window to move up in the government’s hierarchy.In fact, the same story gets repeated for empanelment of additional secretary and secretary in the government of India. Prasant in his research has found that only around 25 non-IAS officers (from a group of 36 services) were empanelled for secretary and secretary equivalent posts in the last five years whereas in case of IAS, about 200 officers made into it. And there is one more difference. “The junior most batch of IAS empanelled for secretary and secretary equivalent posts is that of 1980 whereas the 1976 and 1977 batches are the junior most from the other services to be empanelled at this level,” Prasant writes. Also, officers belonging only to seven services have been empanelled for secretary under the Central Staffing Scheme now. Even in case of empanelment of additional secretary and equivalent posts, Prasant’s essay observes that only officers belonging to 10 services have been empanelled during the last five years. The writer also tries to figure out why such discrimination exists. According to rules, the empanelment and actual appointment for the posts of additional secretary and above is done directly by the cabinet secretary, who is always an IAS. In this exercise, the cabinet secretary is assisted by a special committee of secretaries (SCoS), which consists of senior IAS officers only. In other words, it is the IAS officers who undertake the empanelment process, make recommendations for appointments and make the actual appointments. No wonder, 74.22% of secretary level posts and 88.14% of additional secretary level posts in the government of India are occupied by the IAS officers themselves, Prasant writes. Among some of the recommendations suggested by the writer include scrapping of the current empanelment process and direct recruitment from the officers belonging to all the 37 eligible services through a fair competition. He further suggests that the post of cabinet secretary, the top job in Indian bureaucracy, should not remain reserved for IAS alone. ReadFULL STORY

Augustine Peter has been appointed new Member of the Competition Commission of India. He is an Indian Economic Service (IES) officer.

Vijay Singh Chauhan, Director with Finance Minister's Office, has been appointed as Adviser to ED, World Bank. The 1992 batch IRS (C&CE) officer would succeed Anuradha Thakur. Ms Thakur, a 1994 batch IAS of HP cadre, has just completed her tenure in Washington DC. Two prominent names, A Anbarasu & Niharika Barik Singh, were also in the frays who are presently serving as PS to E Narayansami, MoS for PMO and Director (PMU & Training) with Dept of Economic Affairs respectively.

Just tokenism is not enough. Appointing a few non-IAS officers to some posts doesn't mean that there is fairness. The above post dated April 15, 2014 was apparently meant to show that even non-IAS officers are being considered for important posts. Giving chance to just a handful of non-IAS officers doesn't serve the purpose. Out of 200 odd posts at that level you could name only 5 non-IAS officers. If names are to be given a hundred names of IAS officers in such posts can be given here. Read the analysis by the author and see for yourself the number of posts occupied by IAS and non-IAS officers. Your mind will blow off. The question here is not to appoint any officer belonging to a particular service to a particular post. The requirement here is that suitable officers with relevant qualifications and experience are to be appointed but not by any Tom, Dick and Harry just because he belongs to a particular service.

Actually those who have contacts, are able to manipulate the system and squeeze it for own benefit across all services are benefiting. there are many excellent IAS officers languishing against nondescript posts. many brilliant IAS officers have been served charge sheets or implicated in false cases. But those IAS officers who are hand in glove with Politicians, who not having ethics, willing to crawl when asking to bend all such IAS officers get plum posting, plush houses best perks. Similar is situation in Central Services. Many mediocre central service officers sufficiently corrupt but efficient and willing to become your masters voice holding important position are more powerful than any IAS officers. Thus today buzz word is flexibility & willingness to do anything for boss convenience and own benefit Aaj ka Naara-. KARO AUR BADHO. NA KAHO AUR MARO. Before India Freedom it was KARO YA MARO. Do or Die. All that is old fashioned today. Babus are selfish, self seeking, dishonest, manipulative and enter the civil service to squeeze the people of India.

It was mentioned that Augustine Peter, an IES was appointed as Member, CCI. Lets see who are the other Members of CCI. Ashok Chawla - Chairman (IAS), Anurag Goel-Member (IAS), ML Tayal-Member (IAS), Geeta Gouri - Member (Economist), SL Bunker, Member (IDAS). So we can see here out of 6 Members, 3 are IAS officers who were given post retirement jobs by their political masters. Mr. Peter, an IES was appointed recently. Otherwise, 3 out of 5 are IAS officers.

Even the constitutional posts mostly monopolised by one service.For example,the rules framed for janlokpal restricts members having qualified as secretary,where as the law passed by parliament had not put any such restriction.The artificial barriers unnoticedly put forward to preserve the post retirement plump posting to particular service only,while merits are being sacrificed at altar of Lobbying.Its hightime to file some PIL before supreme court to break such hand-in -glove nature of IAS lobby

IAS works like a co-operative soceity. I have seen it during my deputation at the level of Deputy Secretary under CSS. 20% of the IAS Officers are outstanding but most of them get their postings not on merit but on other considerations!

I liked the author's linking this skewed system of CSS to the caste system. Yes this is definitely a caste system in bureaucracy. This should end as does the caste system in India. Both are are wrong and not good for the country. 7th CPC are you guys reading this. Please do.

The heights of injustice being meted out to non-IAS officers can be demonstrated with the help of an example. A 1994 IRS officer who is currently on deputation with the AP state govt holding the post of Addl. Commissioner of commercial tax had been made subordinate to 2002 IAS officer of AP cadre holding the post of Special commissioner of commercial tax. Im always surprised about the inactivity of IRS lobby. Probably, this issue might not have cropped up during their meetings at all. This one example amply demonstrates how cruelly the IAS lobby functions. They never respect other service officers and consider themselves superior to others. Similarly, a senior IPS officer R K Sahay of 1986 batch has been made junior to a relatively junior IAS officer. And the IPS officer(CVO in MSRTC at that time) is alleged to have committed suicide after he made complaints against the IAS officer of corruption.

Any file related to IAS officers promotion or empanelment moves in the DoPT at a pace generally reserved for movement of supplies to soldiers during a war. Other files will normally incubate for a considerable amount of time before seeing the light of the day. I have worked in the CSS and faced humiliation at the hands of IAS at every stage. I fully agree with what is written in the article. This colonial system of administration in the country has to end.

Yes 'theoretically' IRS officers are empowered to take action against IAS officers. But the question is, has it taken place in reality except for some highly rare incidents? Last year, a raid conducted by IT at an IAS officers house was quashed by the High Court terming it as an act of vendetta. Yes I agree that there are few cases where IAS officers had to succumb to IT officers. But these are very rare case. Even the no of cases booked by CBI against IAS is very low when compared to those cases it registers against non IAS officers. It looks like IT and CBI officials hesitate to take action against these IAS since they fear that they may suffer if things go astray.

Shri Shreemohan Kurnar Sinha, IDSE (1985), who was recommended forcentral deputation by the Ministry of Defence, has been selected for appointmentas Director in the Department of Science & Technology under the Ministry ofScience & Technology, Delhi under the Central Staffing Scheme for a period of fiveyears from the date of taking over charge of the post or until further orders,whichever event takes place earlier. He may kindly be relieved of his dutiesimmediately with instructions to take up his new assignment in the Department ofScience & Technology.2. 'The CR dossier of Shri Shreernohan Kurnar Sinha, IDSE (1985), is returnedherewith. Its receipt may kindly be acknowledged.

IS IT NOT CRMINAL INTENTION TO APPOINT 1985 BATCH OFFICER OF IDSE AS DIRECTOR WHEN 1995 IAS OFFICERS ARE BEING APPOINTED AS JOINT SECRETARIES??????????????

DOES THIS GOVERNMENT OF INDIA BELONG TO IAS?????????????? THEN WHY OTHER SERVICES? SCRAP THE 50,000 ODD GROUP A CENTRAL SERVICES? LET 4000 ODD IAS OFFICERS ALONE RUN THE ENTIRE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA AND STATE GOVERNMENTS! UTTER DISGUST.

I want to give solemn advice. Please be cautious. Do not become crusaders and fight IAS lobby. It is fight between David & Goliath. An Officer of Indian Postal Service was selected by UPSC interview on deputation for technical post of Director of Printing & Head of Department. After selection & joining, the Officer flatly refused to sign on dotted line, already prepared Minutes of Committee Report on selling surplus land of Government of India Presses at prime locations in Metro cities at paltry amount. The Joint Secretary an IAS Officer of J&K cadre and Secretary Urban Development leveled 27 allegations and threw her back at doorstep of UPSC saying they do not find Officer suitable for job. The officer requested Minister to get 27 allegations inquired by CBI, but nothing happened. She addressed CVC, nothing happened. Remember all these institutions, including DoP&T are all dominated by IAS Officers. Therefore please remember officers who are not IAS have no other option but to meekly surrender. The IAS lobby is ruthless. IAS is dominated by incompetent, self seeking officers, many have taken hefty dowry in marriage & saddled with incompatible wives of fathers who are money bags. With such pathetic home life, can you expect these IAS officers to behave with dignity & respect to other service officers? Also remember most of Central Services are themselves responsible for second rate treatment at hands of IAS. If they assert their authority & support their own officers, things can change. But some self seeking Officers of other services take side of IAS & denigrate their own service officers who have shown some spine to take on mighty IAS lobby. Therefore let sleeping dogs lye undisturbed.

We all staff & workers of Government of India Printing Presses salute the bravery of our Director & Head of Department.She was incidentally the first Lady Officer selected by UPSC to head this more than 150 year old Technical Department.

Excellent example of half-baked analysis..why stop at just JS and above posts? If Cab Sec be open to all services, then what about CBDT members and chairman posts? Will they be open to all services too?That will be true equality. Also, what about the caste system practiced in all services with respect to subordinate staff..if you analyse that, we will discover that promotions in most services, from lower feeder cadres to Class 2 or Class 1 posts suffer from the same malaises as laid out in the analysis above..so it will be better to address the issue holistically and not just for one class or group of services.

I could not but laugh at the myopic view of this anonymous person. He did not understand the true essence of the article. If Chairman and Members of CBDT are to be opened for all Services then open the posts of Chairman & member of Railway Board, Postal Board, District Collectors, Chief Secretaries, PCCF, DGPs, Directors of CBI, IB, RAW, CRPF, CISF, Foreign Secretary, Directors of ISRO, DRDO, etc to all Services. This idea itself is non sense. The article calls for specialization. It does not promote any Service or person. The author argues for filling a particular post by a person with relevant qualifications or substantial relevant experience. The specialized job of CBDT should only be done by IRS officers. Similarly, the DGPs should be from IPS, CBEC should contain IRS(C&CE) officers, CBI, IB, RAW should be headed by IPS or officers from these organisations, Railway Board should have officers from Railway Services. I agree one thing with you though - holistic approach is required. There are wide differences across various Departments when it comes to promotion of subordinate staff. Promotions of subordinate staff in Income Tax Department goes with the speed of light but in Customs & central Excise Department they go with the speed of a tortoise. This anomaly has to be rectified. Reduce the speed in IT Dept and increase the speed in C&CE Dept. Holistic approach does not mean Group C & B officers getting the pay and perks of Group A officer. The comparison should be between same classes of officers. Comparison should be between Group A officers of all Services, between Group B of all services and so on. It cannot be between Group A and Group B of a Service.

One thing is sure. This comment was by a disgruntled Group B officer of Income tax Department i.e. ITO. Come on man compare yourself with Superintendents of Customs & Central Excise Department or other Group B officers of other Departments. You are not equal to IRS officers and do not try to behave as such. If you want to get the same pay and perks and facilities of an IRS officer go and clear the Civil Services Examination not the SSC. The article is about Group A officers. So please desist from commenting here as you have no stake here.

One thing is very clear that all non-IAS officers want parity with IAS in all matters(promotions, scale of pay and other perks). Let us consider the problem of slow promotions in non-IAS. There are 2 solutions to this problem. 1. To increase the speed of promotions in non-IAS2. To decrease the speed in IASAny reasonable and well thought person would suggest the 1st solution i.e. increase the speed in IAS. Since the other solution is detrimental to the interests of all services including IAS. I would draw here an analogy between Income group B service and other group B services. Situation in Income tax is similar to that of IAS i.e. considerably fast promotions when compared to others services.(There are also other group B/C services that provide even better promotional prospects to its officers like assistants in CSS). I agree with the above comment that promotional prospects in CBEC are to be improved. This is being done in this current cadre restructuring by creating addl 3500 posts of IRS reserved for group B officers alone. But, where is the necessity to reduce the speed of promotions in CBDT ?? It is imperative to note that a demoralised workforce can never work to its full potential.(If speed is reduced, officers become even more demoralised) It appears that U have misunderstood the basic principles of Human Resource management. It is important to respect all officers irrespective of their mode of recruitment and they are entitled for fast promotions just like how IRS/Other Group A service officers are. The above comment seems to be made by a disgruntled group B officer of CBEC and not CBDT. The above comment would have created serious doubts in the minds of subscribers. Why is that people are getting into civil services?? Is it because they are power hungy?? The above comment clearly answered this question with a 'Yes'. The officer believes that ITOs are recruited through SSC and are hence lesser souls than IRS and that he is entitled to make derogatory comments on junior officers. But, that is not the case. GOI recruited group B/C officers to serve the interest of the nation and not ur own interest. Since, IRS officers are seniors they are to be provided respect and hence we do. If non group A officers are not eligible to read this article or make comments, then even political class which has to make the necessary changes has also no eligibility since they are not group A officers. Please desist from making derogatory comments on lower officials. It may be true that they are ur subordinates, bu that does not confer any right on u to make personal comments on others. All officers working at the level of AC,DC,JC are equal irrespective of mode of recruitment. All of them discharge similar duties having similar powers, hence deserve same respect.

As soon as MMS took over as PM in 2004,he spoke of administrative reforms as one of his top priorities.Consequently second ARC was set up.ARC took 5 years to submit all reports.Another 5 years were devoted to "studying the reports" by Committees of Secretaries and GoM.IAS lobby managed to brush aside first ARC in 1960s.But this time,it was expected that "reformist" MMS will implement some radical recommendations.Not only did they implement some meaningful recommendations of ARC ,they also failed to enact the long pending Public Services Bill.No other govt in foreseeable future is likely to enjoy 10-year mandate together with an ARC and reformist PM.That any radical reforms didn't come about in the last 10-year rule clearly speaks volumes about the formidable powers of IAS lobby.As I am appearing for the ongoing civil services interview,I wish to be recommended only and only for IAS,in view of the harsh realities of our country.

Now even 1984 batch of IAS got empanelled to Additional Secretary posts in the centre. The gap between IAS and non-IAS got further widened now. Only god can save this country. Come on non-IAS babus wake up and claim your rights under the sun. Nobody will fight for you. You have to assert youself. Get out of the slumber guys. Make yourself count.

The author appears to be a disgruntled IRS officer. He has already aired his views about removing the authority of IAS as Revenue secy and having an officer from his own service to man the post. There are quite a few good reasons for this dissatisfaction among IRS cadre. I have come to know recently through a comment posted in the author's blog that an IRS officer was handcuffed and was put in a police lockup for an entire night by SP even without registration of FIR and was let go in the early morning next day. But reportedly no action was taken against the SP. One DM had reportedly summoned an Asst. Commissioner,IT for taking action against a police officer and threatened him that all employees including women of IT dept. in that district will be arrested by police on one reason or the other if action taken against the police officer was not withdrawn. The officer succumbed to the pressure and action was withdrwan. Similarly, one IRS officer in ED was arrested long back by the CBI due to personal vendetta between the officer and then JD,CBI. The officer had claimed in the high court that he was slapped, made nude and was beaten by CBI officers(even inspectors). The officer was in suspension for 13 years and was recently reinstated and was posted as Commissioner, IT. If this is the fate of such officers, then what work efficiency can u expect from them ! I have known through acquaintances that IT officers carrying out raids would have to frequently face harassment from the party being raided to the extent that they would be beaten black and blue and would be made nude. The police personnel accompanying the search party would run away from the spot if slight violence is noticed. This is the reason the no of raids are less and the officers select only innocuous parties for search. It is high time the IRS should make its power visible and free itself from the brand of corrupt service.

The rank of Joint Secretary, GOI is equivalent to rank and pay (SAG) scale of Major General rank in Army/Air Force/Navy.

An officer in armed forces take almost 33 years to get to this rank. Officers in Group A civil services namely Central Secretariat Service, IES, ISS, IRS, IDAS and others take almost 27 to 28 years of service to get promoted. Some of the Group A take even 33 to 34 years of service to get promoted to this rank and scale.

How is it that only IAS officers are promoted to JS, GOI (SAG) scale only after 19 to 22 years of service?

IAS officers lobby is out to kill this country. Everybody thinks its politicians who are responsible for this mess the country is in. But actually it is the IAS bureaucrats who are mainly responsible for this sorry state of affairs of this great country. Politicians are atleast responsible to the people because they have to go to the people every 5 years. IAS officers does not have any responsibility. IAS and CSS are two services which doesnt have a place in the modern administrative system. These two services have to be dissolved. These two services are responsible for the bad governance at the centre and in states. Hope the new government will realise this as quickly as possible and rectify the system

I agree IAS & CSS are hand in glove. They have fooled politicians for years. Both services are scheming & plotting against other services. these two services should be abolished. enough damage has been done to administration by these two services & their dirty tricks department.Pradip Saxena

Specialization should be promoted at any cost. We already have a generalist politician heading a Ministry. We do not need another generalist bureaucrat under the Minister to run the affairs. This only leads too general approach to the administration. I completely agree that the IAS and CSS should be abolished. the officers in these two services have to be reallocated permanently to other departments. The departments have to be manned by specialist services. Every advanced country is moving towards this system. But our IAS lobby promotes the reverse system to promote and protect their own selfish interests.

I would like to congratulate the author for his excellent analysis and his very bold approach. We need such bold and no non-sense civil servants in this country. The issue raised in this article is very important. Every bureaucrat in this country knows and is facing this discriminatory act and strong arm tactics of the IAS lobby. But nobody is demanding or fighting for his/her rights. The fear of unknown haunts these non IAS officers. Thats exactly why hats-off to this young IRS officer for standing tall and questioning the injustice being perpetrated by the IAS lobby. Its high time all the non IAS come together atleast to achieve their objectives in the good interests of the country. But let me also have a word of caution for this young officer. IAS lobby is ruthless, they wont tolerate anybody questioning their wisdom and injustice. They will try to get at you in one way or the other. You may be transferred to some insignificant post or some far of state or place where there will not be even proper drinking water or food, they may file false cases against you, they may send CBI into your house or try to irritate you so much that you may decide to leave government service, etc. So young man get ready for a tougher fight ahead but do not forget that thousands of civil servants including some IAS officers agree with your views and support you wholeheartedly. Eventhough I am a senior to you in the government service I salute you for your initiative and boldness.A fellow civil servant & sufferer

@Mr. Anonymous Civil Servant,I am a civil services aspirant.I have just appeared for CSE interview.Your comment speaks of your cowardice nature and hypocrisy.If you feel victimized why don't you come overground and mobilize your fellow officers even as a junior officer is showing enormous spine.Besides,as a student of public policy and public administration,I would like to enlighten those in favor of so-called "specialist civil service".Public policy is a science of sciences.Policy specialization should not be confused with specialization in a specific academic discipline.Policy specialization entails understanding of relevant issues and ideas that cut across many disciplines.A industry secretary can't afford to ignore the environmental, social inclusion,political implications of a project.A so-called subject specialist can have a tunnel vision working in isolated silo.He may well fail to see the larger picture beyond his nose.Where subject specialization is essential(space,earth science,science tech etc) we have already earmarked those for them.The pattern of Indian Civil Services exam selects candidates from all disciplines from all institutions in a very unique way.Those recommended for IAS can be suitably groomed on lines with the recommendations of ARC.IAS can very well forge synergy between subject expertise and generalist understanding.This is the unique strength of IAS.Indian Civil services has successfully survived political independence,economic liberalization by reinventing itself in changing context.Now it is required to reinvent itself again in the context of changing governance.Contrary to common perception,governance across the world is in need of generalists in true sense at the helm of affairs.Those who are thinking otherwise are either jealous of IAS or ignorant about the real world.

I hope the 7th Pay Commission opens its eyes and understands the misadventures of IAS and recommends scrapping of CSS or recommends an improved and fair scheme. One can only hope that the current Chairman of 7th Pay Commission is not swayed away by the presence of an IAS officer in the Pay Commission.

Pointless to even suggest that there should be fair play in empanelment for joint secretary posts because DoPT is "of the IAS, by the IAS & for the IAS". Every effort will be made to empanel IAS batches as fast as possible and delay all other services. forget about JS empanelment, even promotion to SAG grade within an allied service cadre is tough to go through DoPT till all IAS officers of that batch are empanelled and slotted as JSs. An average performing IAS officer will be preferred for selection as JS over a high performing allied services officer. Kya achhe din ayenge allied services ke liye ? Wait and hope.

It is high time that some parity is restored among IAS and other Group A services in matters of empanelment as Joint Secretaries. Way back in 1985 the matter was debated at length and placed before a Group Of Ministers after the receipt of Fourth Pay Commission report. It was conceded that in no case the disparity should be more than two years. Three decades and two more Pay Commissions down the line the disparity has become so wide-8 to 10 years in many cases. While 1995 IAS-wallahs have already become Joint Secretaries for other Group A services they have not considered even 1990 batch. IA&AS is lucky as their controlling authority is CAG and they are independent of DoPT. The new dispensation must correct this aberration .They must also look at other service conditions like training, allotment of houses, health facilities (like treatment abroad)which have been exclusively given to the IAS. The other services like play an equally, in some cases more, important role in the governance of the country and deserve the same treatment. After all they have all joined through the same competitive examination.

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